Hey guys

So yesterday I got to test drive an 83 rx7. It looks good and runs good. It has a miss at low rpm but I think that was because the guy hadn't put the exhaust back on it and the engine is from the car that got totaled a few months back. It also has the vacuum leak high idle of 1200 rpm but it doesn't run bad so I assume it is a small one that can easily be fixed. I has disk brakes all the way around and all the electronics work. He has put new tires on it and new brakes on it as well.

All I wanted to know is if I was getting a good deal at 2500. There appears to be no rust on the car from what I saw and it drives nice and doesn't have the 4 barrel bog a mid rpm when you stab the gas.

Thanks Josh
hope to return to rotary heaven soon.

 

mileage? Any pics?

 

Check compression with the engine at temp. I'm not familiar with "the vacuum leak high idle of 1200 rpm." If the compression checks out, fix the vacuum leak. $2500 is too much to pay if you can't confirm the high idle isn't compression..

 

I know it isn't compression since it was the engine that I had in my car that got wrecked and I had it idling around 850 to 900.

 

Mileage on the body is 177k but the engine has somewhere around 125k. Ill post pics once I get them over from my phone in just a bit. Granted these are pics he sent me while he was putting it back together from him changing out the engine.

 

The dash does have a crack but everything else is nice.

 

forgot to hit upload

 

Looks nice but lots of red flags.

$2500 should buy you a nice rust free FB ready for the road without any issues.

That one is high mileage, looks like it's been painted (read rust underneath) and has plenty of issues, starting with no exhaust (I can't believe you drove it that way), a questionable engine (why hasn't he fixed it if it's no big deal) and no headlights (OK, what else isn't there and needs work?).

I'd keep looking if I were you, half that much money could buy you a better FB or SA if you are patient.

Is Nashvegas in Tennessee or Nevada? Here in the southeast nice 1st gens aren't hard to find.

 

He is installing an exhaust and the headlights are back in. Nashvegas is nashville TN. I have been looking for one ever since mine got totaled last year and haven't seen one since...

 

It all comes down to condition of course, you need to check it out up close and personal. But do look closely for rust and good evidence that engine isn't going to have to be replaced in the near future. And subtract for everything you will need to do to make it road worthy.

1st gens aren't hard to find in the Atlanta area where I live, here are some examples of the ones currently listed on the local craigslist and others are coming up all the time. Check them out, at least they'll give you some comps to look at and maybe even inspire you to come down and have a look:

Here's an 83 GSL that looks to be in good shape and nicely done, lots of desirable add ons, $2300:

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5353320017.html

And here's a real nice SA, not sure what the asking price is:

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5382503148.html

This one looks pretty, the light beige on brown interior works nicely (I used to have an 84 GSL in that combo, loved it) and interior parts are relatively easy to come by, $2400:

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5350918463.html

This one might be a fixer upper if you can get it for $1000-$1200, half the asking price (good chance, I'd bet). Automatic but low mileage and appears to be complete and in decent shape:

https://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/5369144188.html

A bit expensive, but this one looks to be an exceptional example of a low mileage GSLSE, the one to get if you can afford it:

https://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/5380896212.html

 

Thanks for the listings. The issue I have is I am single and don't exactly have an easy way to go somewhere and pick up a 7 without having to rent a trailer and pull it home. That is why I have been looking locally. I do really like the GSLSE though very nice. This car would also be a project car with the intention of it to be eventually a track day car/ race car... but that is a long ways down the road and the reason why I don't want to buy a nice one and hack it up.

 

Not sure the I'm single argument holds water, you could always rent a car one way, Nashville to Atlanta would probably be about $35 a day.

The bigger problem is checking them out and making a decision on short notice. But if you lined a couple up to look at, left early in the day and used the rental to go see them, it might just work, spend an hour or so with each car and then make a decision.

Expand your search a bit, especially down here in Georgia, the land of the rust free 1st gen RX-7s. Take your time, a good one will come along and make the decision for you (like that SE, in case you'd rather drive the 7 every day instead of waiting for the track).

 

I think you are right sir. I am going to see if i can get the guy to possibly meet me or if I have to I will drive all the way down and check it out.

Well that GSLSE is way out there didn't realize it was in SC. like a 7 hr drive for me

 

I have a GSL-SE for sale and I'm only 8.5 hours away. I also have a rotary compression tester to check compression if you came and bought it.

$5000 - Just got done powder coating a bunch of parts, replacing the oil pan gasket, adding a new radio, new brake master, new rear axle seals, new idler arm.

 

7-8 hours is a long drive if there is any question about the purchase, so you would really need to confirm all the details before committing. And of course be willing to drive home empty handed if once up close the deal smells like dead fish.

Two areas that could help in this would be:

1) a cooperative, honest, well informed seller who will be very generous in providing all the details, good and bad, that you need for an informed purchase. This has to be someone who has no problem with the "rude" questions, like "can you send me detailed photos of the rusty or rust-free areas under the rear storage wells and rear wheel wells?", engine compression data, repair history, etc, etc, etc. Not so important for a $1000-$2000 car, but for a really nice SE like KC's or the one in SC these are all valid questions that need honest answers.

2) having a surrogate in the area of the purchase who can check the car out, give it a good test drive and get to know the seller.

The good news is that the 1st gen community is full of people that fit the above descriptions, including KC. And I'll bet we know the owner of that SC SE, or at least people who know him or her as well as the car itself. A little poking and research could very well get you into the SE of your dreams and an excellent deal.

In the mean time, keep looking for that $1000-$2000 unit in good shape that you can sink a bit of work into, that's always a fun option too.

 

I prefer buying a used car that's got wear on it. That way you know it has already held together a long long time.

That 914 I bought was so pretty. What happened was it was in a wreck, so bad that the fly wheel timing mark was rubbed off, and the rear wheels couldn't be aligned. Then when I totaled it, I saw all the bondo.

 

the 80mph dash and steering wheel makes me think it is an 81 or 82. the 83s had a speedo that read 120.

check the vin for years. they may have just changed the cluster

 

Good call the vin on it calls out an 82 so it is a 82 rx7